Terry product

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a terry product consisting of a textile base material and a pile associated with the base material, which is characterized in that the base material and/or the pile comprise(s) at least partially a cellulose fiber selected from the group consisting of viscose fibers, modal fibers, polynosic fibers and lyocell, which cellulose fiber has a titer of more than

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a terry product which consists, in amanner known per se, of a textile base material and a pile associatedwith the base material.

2. Related Art

Terry products are textile articles with a particular absorbency and apleasant feel, which are used, in particular, in the fields of hometextiles and sports articles. The pile (in particular in the form ofyarn loops) which is associated with a textile base material, e.g. afabric, is characteristic of terry products.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term “terry product”covers especially but not exclusively products such as terry cloths,velour terry products, milled terry products and twisted terry products.

Terry products, e.g. towels, have to meet specific demands especially interms of their softness, their absorbency, their bulkiness and theirbulk stability (during storage, a stack of towels must not sink downunder its own weight).

Presently, commercially available terry products essentially consist ofcotton. Towels made of cotton exhibit the required bulkiness, bulkstability and absorbency.

However, in order to achieve the required softness of the product,cotton products must be furnished with a plasticizer. For home washing,the use of fabric softeners is necessary. Both plasticizers and fabricsofteners are suspected to be allergenic. Moreover, plasticizerssubstantially reduce the absorbency and absorption rate of productsfurnished therewith.

Without the use of plasticizers and fabric softeners, terry productsmade of conventional modal fibers are soft and also absorbent butexhibit a lower bulkiness and a lower bulk stability than products madeof 100% cotton.

Terry products comprising a mixture of cotton and conventional modalfibers are soft, absorbent and have sufficient bulkiness but do notexhibit sufficient bulk stability.

Terry products made of synthetic fibers (e.g. micropolyester) are softbut have to be furnished with hydrophilic chemicals in order to attainsufficient absorbency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide terry productswhich meet the demands made on such textile articles in an excellentmanner without exhibiting the above-mentioned disadvantages of prior artproducts.

Said object is achieved with a terry product which is characterized inthat the base material and/or the pile comprise(s) at least partially acellulose fiber selected from the group consisting of viscose fibers,modal fibers, polynosic fibers and lyocell, which cellulose fiber has atiter of more than 1.7 dtex to 4.5 dtex.

Surprisingly, it has been found that the use of “man-made” cellulosefibers, i.e., viscose fibers, modal fibers, polynosic fibers and lyocellfibers, in a specific titer range of from more than 1.7 dtex to 4.5 dtexin a terry product causes the products according to the invention toexhibit both excellent bulkiness and excellent bulk stability.

Absorbency is improved in comparison to existing products comprising,for example, modal fibers having a lower titer or mixtures,respectively, of modal fibers with a lower titer and cotton. In apreferred embodiment, fibers with a modified cross-section, inparticular fibers with a multilobal cross-section, are used, since theabsorption rate and absorbency are once more improved as a result of theenlarged fiber surface. A trilobal cross-section is particularlypreferred. “Man-made” cellulose fibers having a multilobal cross-sectionare described, for example, in EP 0 301 874 A1 as well as in WO2006/060835.

Preferably, the titer of the cellulose fiber used according to theinvention ranges from 2 dtex to 4.5 dtex, particularly preferably from2.2 dtex to 3.3 dtex, most preferably from 2.5 dtex to 2.8 dtex, inparticular from 2.5 dtex to 2.6 dtex.

The use of a modal fiber in the above-mentioned titer range isparticularly preferred.

The name “modal fiber” is a generic term which, according to thedefinition by BISFA (Bureau for the International Standardization ofMan-Made Fibers), denotes a cellulose fiber having a defined high wetstrength and a high wet modulus that has also been defined (i.e., theforce which is required for expanding the fiber in the wet state by 5%).

Due to the softness of the modal fiber, neither plasticizers arerequired during the production, nor fabric softeners are needed forfurther use in the terry product according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the terry product according to the invention, the cellulose fiberused can be provided as a cellulose staple fiber having a cutting lengthof from 30 mm to 60 mm, preferably from 38 mm to 51 mm.

The cellulose fiber can be present in the form of a yarn or a twistedyarn produced therefrom. Types known per se such as, e.g., ring spunyarns, SIRO-yarns, core-spun yarns, compact yarns, OE-yarns, air-jetyarns, chenille yarns, looped yarns and zero-twist yarns, for example,in a mixture with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-fibers and -yarns, come intoconsideration as yarns.

In the terry product according to the invention, the cellulose fiber canbe present in a mixture with a fiber material selected from the groupconsisting of cotton, polyester, wool, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE),polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), polyacryl (PAC), polyvinyl alcohol(PVA), linen, silk, or also viscose fibers, polynosic fibers, lyocellfibers and modal fibers having a, for example, lower titer range.

A mixture of a modal fiber in the above-mentioned titer range withcotton is particularly advantageous.

In a preferred embodiment, the textile base material and/or the pileconsist(s) essentially entirely of the cellulose fiber or the mixturecomprising the cellulose fiber, respectively. This means thatexclusively yarns from the cellulose fiber or blended yarns,respectively, from the cellulose fiber and a second component, e.g.cotton, are used for the production of the base material and/or thepile.

The proportion of the cellulose fiber in the base material and/or thepile advantageously ranges from 1% to 100%, preferably from 10% to 100%,particularly preferably from 30% to 100%.

Mixtures of, in each case, 30% to 50% modal fibers and 70% to 50%cotton, e.g., 30% modal fibers/70% cotton or 50% modal fibers/50%cotton, are particularly preferred. As mentioned above, these mixturescan be used in the material of the pile and/or in the material of thebacking fabric.

In another embodiment, merely the pile consists essentially entirely ofthe cellulose fiber or, respectively, comprises a mixture with adifferent fiber, and the base material consists of a different fibermaterial. An embodiment with a base material of, for example, 100%cotton and a pile of 100% modal fibers or a mixture of 50% modal fibersand 50% cotton is advantageous.

In a further embodiment, both the pile and the base material consistessentially entirely of the cellulose fiber or, respectively, comprise amixture with a different fiber. An embodiment is beneficial in whichboth the base material and the pile are made of 100% modal fibers or amixture of 50% modal fibers and 50% cotton or a mixture of 30% modalfibers and 70% cotton, respectively.

In a further embodiment, the base material consists of either 100%cotton or 100% modal fibers. The pile consists of two threads, namely athread made of 100% modal fibers and a thread made of 100% cotton. Thisconstruction allows itself to be woven, depending on the pattern, withthe main focus specifically on the modal fibers or the cotton,respectively. In case of piece dyeing with selected dyestuffs, theportions of cotton and modal fibers, respectively, differ in terms ofshade and colour depth (e.g. Jacquard effect). Instead of cotton, afiber from the group comprising polyester, wool, polypropylene,polyamide, polyacryl, polyvinyl alcohol, linen, silk, viscose, polynosicand lyocell and/or mixtures thereof can also be used for the secondthread.

In the terry product according to the invention, the pile preferablyconsists, as is known per se, of yarn loops or, as with velour goods, ofshorn yarn loops.

The textile base material is preferably selected from the groupconsisting of woven fabrics, warp-knitted fabrics, knitted fabrics andstitch-knitted fabrics.

The terry product according to the invention is preferably provided inthe form of or as a component, respectively, of an article selected fromthe group consisting of towels, beach towels, bath towels, sauna towels,bath robes, washcloths, bath carpets, tea towels, bedclothes, e.g. bedlinens, mattress and blanket covers and mattress supports, baby clothes,sportswear, socks, lining materials and diapers.

EXAMPLES Example 1

The warp of the base material consists of a 100% cotton yarn (Ne23.5/2or Ne12/1), the weft also consists of 100% cotton—(Ne 16.5/1). For thepile, a blended yarn made up of 50% modal fibers (2.5 dtex, cuttinglength 38 mm) and 50% cotton (Ne 16.5/1) is used. The finished productexhibits excellent absorbency, high bulkiness and excellent bulkstability. The article has an inherently soft and pleasant feel.Finishing with plasticizers is not required but actually has adverseeffects since the absorbency and absorption rate are clearly reduced.

Example 2

The warp of the base material consists, as in Example 1, of a 100%cotton yarn (Ne23.5/2 or Ne12/1) and the weft consists of 100% cotton—Ne16.5/1. For the pile, a yarn mixture of 88% modal fibers (2.5 dtex,cutting length 51 mm) and 12% PVA (Ne 12 zero-twist yarn) is used.During the further processing of the product, the PVA fibers areextracted, whereby the weight of the product is reduced. The finishedproduct exhibits excellent absorbency and a very high volume of thelooped yarn. Due to the improved fiber bonding in the looped yarn as aresult of using a 2.5 dtex modal fiber with a cutting length of 51 mm,such a towel loses far less fibers during use than a comparable towelfrom a zero-twist yarn made of cotton.

Example 3

The warp of the base material consists of a 100% cotton yarn (Ne23.5/2or Ne12/1), the weft also consists of 100% cotton—(Ne 16.5/1). For thepile, a blended yarn made up of 50% modal fibers having a trilobal fibercross-section (2.5 dtex, cutting length 38 mm) and 50% cotton (Ne16.5/1) is used. The finished product exhibits excellent absorbency,high bulkiness and excellent bulk stability. The article has aninherently soft and pleasant feel. Finishing with plasticizers is notrequired but actually has adverse effects since the absorbency andabsorption rate are clearly reduced. Bulkiness, bulk stability,absorption rate and absorbency are once more improved in comparison toExample 1.

1. A terry product comprising a textile base material and a pileassociated with the base material, wherein the base material and/or thepile comprise(s) a cellulose fiber selected from the group consisting ofviscose fibers, modal fibers, polynosic fibers and lyocell, whichcellulose fiber has a titer of from 2.5 dtex to 4.5 dtex.
 2. The terryproduct according to claim 1, wherein the cellulose fiber has a titer offrom 2.5 dtex to 3.3 dtex.
 3. The terry product according to claim 1,wherein the cellulose fiber is a cellulose staple fiber having a cuttinglength of from 30 mm to 60 mm.
 4. The terry product according to claim1, wherein the cellulose fiber has a multilobal cross-section.
 5. Theterry product according to claim 1, wherein the cellulose fiber ispresent in the form of a yarn or a twisted yarn produced therefrom. 6.The terry product according to claim 5, wherein the yarn is selectedfrom the group consisting of ring spun yarns, siro yarns, core-spunyarns, compact yarns, OE-yarns, air-jet yarns, chenille yarns, loopedyarns and zero-twist yarns.
 7. The terry product according to claim 1,wherein the cellulose fiber is present in a mixture with a fibermaterial selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyester, wool,polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyacryl, polyvinylalcohol, linen, silk, viscose, lyocell, polynosic and modal.
 8. Theterry product according to claim 1, wherein the textile base materialand/or the pile consist(s) essentially entirely of the cellulose fiberor the mixture comprising the cellulose fiber, respectively.
 9. Theterry product according to claim 1, wherein the proportion of thecellulose fiber in the base material and/or the pile ranges from 1% to100%.
 10. The terry product according to claim 1, wherein the pile warpconsists of a thread of 100% modal fibers and a thread of 100% cotton orpolyester, wool, polypropylene, polyamide, polyacryl, polyvinyl alcohol,linen, silk, viscose, polynosic or lyocell, respectively.
 11. The terryproduct according to claim 1, wherein the pile consists of yarn loops orshorn yarn loops, respectively.
 12. The terry product according to claim1, wherein the base material is selected from the group consisting ofwoven fabrics, warp-knitted fabrics, knitted fabrics and stitch-knittedfabrics.
 13. The terry product according to claim 1 in the form of or asa component, respectively, of an article selected from the groupconsisting of towels, beach towels, bath towels, sauna towels, bathrobes, washcloths, bath carpets, tea towels, bedclothes, e.g. bedlinens, mattress and blanket covers and mattress supports, baby clothes,sportswear, socks, lining materials and diapers.
 14. The terry productaccording to claim 2, wherein the cellulose fiber has a titer of from2.5 dtex to 2.8 dtex.
 15. The terry product according to claim 2,wherein the cellulose fiber has a titer of from 2.5 dtex to 2.6 dtex.16. The terry product according to claim 3, wherein the cellulose fiberis a cellulose staple fiber having a cutting length of from 38 mm to 51mm.
 17. The terry product according to claim 4, wherein the cellulosefiber has a trilobal cross-section.
 18. The terry product according toclaim 9, wherein the proportion of the cellulose fiber in the basematerial and/or the pile ranges from 10% to 100%.
 19. The terry productaccording to claim 9, wherein the proportion of the cellulose fiber inthe base material and/or the pile ranges from 30% to 100%.
 20. The terryproduct according to claim 1, wherein the base material and/or the pileconsist(s) of a cellulose fiber selected from the group consisting ofviscose fibers, modal fibers, polynosic fibers and lyocell.
 21. Theterry product according to claim 1, wherein the pile consists of: (a) athread of 100% modal fibers, and (b) a thread of 100% of a fiberselected from the group consisting of cotton, polyester, wool,polypropylene, polyamide, polyacryl, polyvinyl alcohol, linen, viscose,polynosic and lyocell.